JP6800873B2 - Extraction of gloves manufactured by immersion molding from the immersion mold - Google Patents

Description

a. Field of Invention The present invention has gloves already partially removed, so that each glove has a suspended cuff end, including a beaded cuff end at the end. In some cases, it relates to an apparatus and a method for removing an elastomer glove from a dip-moulding former. The present invention relates to dip-molded disposable inspection gloves, such as those used in clinical, veterinary, dental or medical environments, or in other situations where hygiene is important, such as in cooking food. Regarding sampling and subsequent handling.

There is an increasing need to control patients from becoming infected with multiple antibiotic-resistant infectious bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant methicillin-resistant methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (MRSA), in hospitals, clinics, and physician surgery. Studies have also shown that the presence of MRSA in someone's hand leaves bacteria on the next four surfaces that he or she touches. Once MRSA is present in an article, MRSA stays there for up to 80 days unless the article is washed. C. Difficile remains active on the surface for much longer. One of the effective and inexpensive ways to control such contamination is to use disposable inspection gloves.

Examples of manual and automatic manufacturing systems for packing such gloves in boxes or dispensers are disclosed in International Patent Publication No. 2010/020882A2 and International Patent Publication No. 2011/048414A1. Such a system works most effectively when the gloves are delivered to the packing station predictably or regularly by the conveyor.

In such a manufacturing system, it can be very useful to carry the product on a conveyor such as a conveyor belt, whether for gloves or for other products that are equally flexible and relatively flat.

Immersion-molded gloves are manufactured on a mold or instrument having a particular shape, referred to herein as a "former". In the immersion type, after immersing in the liquid tank, the solvent is removed from the liquid that adheres to the immersion type by lifting it from the tank, heating it, drying or curing it, or the polymer chain is crosslinked to solidify the immersion type. Leave the film. In this description, the resulting film is referred to as "cured".

Disposable inspection gloves are made from nitrile butadiene rubber, which is simply referred to herein as nitrile, due to its relatively low cost, good flexibility and elasticity, and non-allergenic properties. Is increasing. Such gloves are hand-shaped and are formed in a dip-type with a cuff and end fingers, which are directed to the lowest position when immersed in a liquid tank and lifted. The manufacturing plant has a long continuous chain conveyor that carries the immersion mold through various manufacturing steps, including a extraction step in which the cured gloves are removed from the immersion mold inside out. Following this, the empty immersion mold is checked for residue and washed. This can include soaking in an acidic bath.

A glove production line usually has two sets of such chain conveyors, forming four parallel lines, passing through the same tank, and going through a sampling and inspection stage. The production speed is about one glove per second per line.

Removing gloves from the immersion mold usually involves manual work, at least part of the removal process. This process can be partially automated by using a glove extractor that pulls most of the glove out of the dip, and the palm and cuff ends of the glove are still the former digit of the fingertips. Make contact with the immersion mold including tips) so that it can be hung from various parts of the glove. Gloves are provided with reinforcing beads or rims on the cuff edge. When partially removed from the immersion mold, the cuff edge of the glove is suspended from the immersion mold of the fingers.

Typical glove immersion molding production rates typically require two, three or four workers per line. Freely suspended glove cuffs are usually pulled by an operator to completely remove the glove fingers from the immersion mold, after which each glove is dropped into a box or stacked at a glove removal station.

Its labor cost is an increasing component of total production cost. Therefore, a machine for completely removing gloves from the immersion type is known. However, not only the labor required at the extraction station, but also the labor required to handle the gloves after being removed from the extraction station for packing in a box or dispenser becomes a problem.

According to the utility model registration No. 202439169 of China Utility Model Gazette, gloves are automatically removed from the immersion mold for dip molding, and the removed gloves are placed one by one on the receiving surface to form a bundle of gloves. Discloses the machine for. The gloves are partially removed from the immersion mold before reaching a machine with a pair of opposing rollers. A roller grips the cuff end of the glove, which is then first removed from the immersion cuff so that the removed glove is turned inside out with respect to the formed glove. The limitation of such machines is that the bundle of gloves formed under the pair of rollers is very non-uniform. Workers can be hired to align each bundle of machine-manufactured gloves, but the gloves are still not placed evenly and evenly in the bundle, which makes processing and packing much more performable. It also becomes difficult. This non-uniformity also significantly limits the maximum number of gloves that can be packed in a glove dispenser.

International Patent Publication No. 2014/122595 uses a pair of opposing belt conveyors with a V-shape that can be swiveled together to grip the cuff end, and is an elastomer partially extracted from the immersion mold for immersion molding. Another method of removing gloves is disclosed. The belt then pulls on the cuff end and operates to completely remove the glove from the immersion mold. Following this, the opposing belts can be moved to a position where the gloves can be released onto the conveyor belt by reactivating the belt conveyor. This system is effective in providing a mechanized process for removing gloves and then depositing them on a conveyor belt, but the equipment is relatively complex and heavy and matches the speed of the glove production line. Making it more difficult to achieve a sufficiently fast cycle time. Further, the position of the cuff end deposited on the conveyor belt changes depending on how much the cuff end is suspended from the immersion mold. This in turn imposes more demands on the automatic glove packing equipment used to pick up gloves from conveyor belts and pack them in distribution containers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more convenient device and method for removing an elastomer glove from a dip mold in a dip molding process.

Outline of the Invention According to the first aspect of the present invention, a glove for completely removing a partially extracted immersion molded elastomer glove from the immersion mold by grasping and pulling the suspended cuff end of the glove. The glove extraction device is a extraction device in which the cuff end is terminated at a bead-finished cuff edge, and the glove extraction device controls the operation of the grip device, the grip drive device, the extraction drive device, and these drive devices. The gripping device includes a control unit, the gripping device is provided with first and second gripping members facing each other, and the first and second gripping members are movable relative to each other, and the first and second gripping members are movable . The gripping members are provided with gripping surfaces facing each other on both sides of the gap closest to each other, and the gripping device is such that the cuff of the glove is suspended from the immersion mold to the gripping surface under the gap. The control unit has an opening space for receiving the end portion.
-The first grip member and the second grip member are relatively moved to an open configuration, and the gap is received during use by the suspended cuff end between the grip surfaces. It is spread so as to be freely suspended in the opening space between the gripping surfaces.
-The first grip member and the second grip member are relatively moved to the narrowed configuration, and the gap prevents the bead-finished cuff edge from passing through the narrowed gap. The cuff end is narrowed enough to not block
-The first grip member and the second grip member are moved downward together toward the bead-finished cuff edge portion, and when used, the cuff end portion in the opening space is bead-finished. The cuff edge is moved upward through the narrowed gap until it is sandwiched between the gripping surfaces by the narrowed gap.
-The first grip member and the second grip member continue to move downward along with the bead-finished cuff edge sandwiched between the grip surfaces, whereby the glove is completely removed from the immersion mold. It is a glove pulling device sequentially configured to use the driving device so as to pull the cuff end portion downward until it is pulled out.

The opening space may be of any convenient or practical size or volume, at least a volume large enough to accommodate the cuff end under the gap, and more than a narrowed gap. It must be wide enough to allow the cuff end to move freely within the opening space without the beaded cuff edge being pinched or trapped in the opening space.

The gap has a first width when the gap is widened and a second width when the gap is narrowed. Preferably, the first width is at least 50 mm, the most preferably at least 100 mm, receiving the cuff edge between the first and second gripping members without interference from the first and second gripping members To be able to.

Preferably, the second width is about 2 mm or less, most preferably about 0.75 mm or less.

Preferably, the gap between the opposing gripping surfaces having the first width extends substantially horizontally.

Preferably, when the gripping surface moves relatively, it presents with a downwardly open funnel to guide the beaded cuff edge into the narrowed gap.

In the context of the present invention, a dip-molded glove is a cuff end where one or more fingers (four fingers and / or thumbs) of the dip-molded glove remain completely or partially immersed. If the part is free to hang from the immersion mold, the open end of the glove has a beaded cuff edge and is in the lowest position, the glove is partially removed from the immersion mold. ..

Depending on the grade of the glove, the thickness of the material at the cuff end is about 2 mils to 15 mils (50 μm to 375 μm). The beaded cuff edge is typically at least twice this thickness, and more generally ten times this thickness. Many nitrile gloves are about 4.5 mils thick (115 μm). The narrowed gap between the opposing surfaces is sized to accommodate at least twice this thickness, but less than twice the expected bead-finished cuff edge thickness. For example, if the beaded cuff edge has a thickness of 20 mils (500 μm), the narrowed gap should be no more than about 40 mils (1 mm).

Therefore, the cuff end is restricted so that the cuff end can move relatively upward as the narrowed gap moves downward toward the beaded cuff edge.

Therefore, in general, the cuff end adjacent to the beaded cuff edge has a first material thickness and the beaded edge has a second material thickness and a first thickness. Is smaller than the second thickness. Therefore, the first material thickness is less than or approximately equal to the second width of the narrowed gap, and the second width of the narrowed gap is also the second material thickness of the beaded edge. Less than about twice as much, so that the beaded cuff edge is sandwiched in the narrowed gap, at least the beaded thickness doubles when the left and right sides of the cuff edge are folded back. ..

The opposing grip surfaces are movable with respect to each other, so that the width of the gap is adjustable. The gripping surface is first moved so that the cuff ends are separated by a first width sufficient to be received between the facing surfaces. The width can then be adjusted by moving the first and second gripping members relative to each other so that the gap has a second width that is smaller than the first width. In the second width, it is possible for the ends to pass between the facing surfaces, but not for the beaded edges of the glove cuff.

The gripping drive may be configured to move one gripping member towards the cuff end and the other gripping member. This movement is preferably substantially horizontal.

The control unit may be configured to use the drive after the gloves have been completely removed so that the removed gloves are released in a substantially horizontal orientation.

Substantially horizontal means that the glove plane is less than 45 ° with respect to the horizontal plane, so that the glove is a glove deposit surface, such as an increasing bundle of gloves or an upward glove conveyor surface. For example, it can be deposited flat on the top surface of a belt conveyor.

One or both of the opposing gripping surfaces may be raised protrusions towards the gap, such as lips.

In one embodiment of the invention, the opposing gripping surfaces are non-rotatable surfaces. In this case, the restricted cuff edge slides between the opposing gripping surfaces until the beaded cuff edge reaches the gap, which pinches or captures the beaded cuff edge, which closes the gap. It is set narrow enough to prevent it from passing through.

Optionally, when at least one of the opposing gripping surfaces moves upward with respect to the narrowed gap until the beaded cuff edge is pinched in the narrowed gap. In addition, it is a rolling surface of a roller configured to roll upward. In this case, the narrowed gap may optionally be narrower so that the cuff ends roll between one or both of the opposing surfaces.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first gripping member is a rotatable first roller having a first roller surface and the second gripping member is a rotatable first roller surface having a second roller surface. The second roller. The first and second roller surfaces are arranged in cooperation with each other so that the respective portions of the first and second roller surfaces face each other to provide a gap.

The gripping drive device and the sampling drive device are sequentially operated under the control of the control unit during use.
-Position the first and second rollers so that there is a gap between the opposing parts of the first and second roller surfaces.
-With respect to the cuff end, with the beaded cuff edge below the narrowed gap, until the cuff end is restricted between the opposing first and second roller surfaces. Move the first roller and the second roller,
-Move the first roller and the second roller both downward toward the bead-finished cuff edge so that both the opposing first and second roller surfaces have the narrowed gap. Rotate upwards within to allow the restricted cuff end to move upward relative to the narrowed gap until the beaded cuff edge is pinched by the narrowed gap.
-Until the glove is completely removed from the immersion mold, the first roller and the second roller continue to move downward with the bead-finished cuff edge sandwiched between the narrowed gaps, thereby. It may be configured to pull the restricted cuff end downward.

Preferably, the upward rotation of the opposing first and second roller surfaces within the narrowed gap is the restricted cuff end as the first and second rollers move downward. Driven by the pull of.

The glove remover is located adjacent to the first roller and extends away from the cuff end restricted between the opposing portions of the first and second roller surfaces. An additional support platform may be provided that is positioned to provide a support for the stripped portion.

The glove removing device further includes a rotation drive device, and the rotation of the first roller and / or the second roller is driven by this rotation drive device.

In the control unit, after the gloves are completely removed, the rotary drive device drives the first roller and / or the second roller, and the first roller and the second roller are oriented substantially horizontally. It can be configured to control the rotation of the rotation drive so that the gloves are released from between.

The process released between the facing surfaces tends to flatten the glove, which helps reduce packing volume.

The support surface can help prevent unwanted wrinkles or folds from forming during the release of the glove and being drawn between the facing surfaces.

The process of pulling a glove across a support surface encourages the glove to be pulled flat by the drag between the glove and the underlying support surface. This is useful for elastomeric gloves such as disposable ambidextrous sanitary gloves, as the finger portion is farther from the end or cuff portion of the glove held by the rolling means. Therefore, as the glove is released, the finger portion tends to be pulled straight from the support surface by drag before reaching the opposite opposite rotating surface.

If the glove is accelerated sufficiently quickly when the rollers begin to release the glove, the inertia of the glove tends to further stretch the glove, thereby evening out wrinkles or folds.

The platform may be of any type of platform and may have a solid continuous support surface, mesh, grid, or other suitable support surface. The platform does not have to be horizontal and should be angled relative to horizontal unless the gloves slide down the platform and bundle near the rollers where the gloves are held before being released from between the rollers. Can be done.

Preferably, the platform is a flat platform, and the plane of the platform is substantially along the gap. At this time, since the platform is along the gap, the glove moves substantially in a straight line as the glove is pulled across the surface. This helps keep the glove flat before it is released, which in turn can encourage the glove to rest flat on the receiving surface after release.

The control unit can be configured to rotate the first roller and the second roller in opposite directions so that the supported portion of the extracted glove crosses the support surface and the first and second rollers . It is pulled between the roller surfaces of. Therefore, the glove can be released between the opposing portions of the first and second roller surfaces.

One or both of the drives may be configured to move or position the first and second rollers with each other so that the second roller is above the first roller before the glove is released. Good. This may be relative movement if the first and second rollers are movable relative to each other, or this may be a reorientation of the roller positions relative to each other.

A second aspect of the present invention is a production line for producing a plurality of immersion molded elastomer gloves.
-Multiple immersion molds for immersion molding and
-A dip molding stage that coats and cures the gloves on the dip mold, and
-With the beaded cuff edge of the glove at the lowest position, the hardened glove from the dip mold so that the cuff end of each glove is suspended from the dip mold for dip molding. A glove partial extraction device configured to partially extract, wherein the cuff end has a first material thickness and the bead-finished cuff edge has a second material thickness. , The first thickness is thinner than the second thickness, the glove part extraction device, and
-A production line that includes a glove remover configured to completely remove the partially removed glove from the immersion mold.
-The glove pulling device includes a driving device system for gripping a partially pulled glove and pulling it out from the immersion mold, and a gripping device having first and second gripping members facing each other . first and second gripping members, the gripping surface facing the opposite sides of the gap where the first and second gripping members are closest to each other is provided, the drive system, the first and second gripping It is configured to move the members relative to each other to change the width of the gap.
-The drive system is
-The grip surface was moved relative to each other to increase the width of the gap, and the bead-finished opening edge of the glove was suspended in the opening space below the grip surface. In this state, position the gripping surfaces moved so as to be separated from each other on both sides of the suspended cuff end.
-The gripping surfaces are moved relative to each other to narrow the width of the gap and the cuff end is restricted between the gripping surfaces, and the narrowed gap is narrowed by the bead-finished cuff edge. Narrow enough to prevent it from passing upwards through the gap, but wide enough to allow the cuff end to pass upwards.
-When the cuff end moves upward through the narrowed gap, the grip surface is separated from the immersion mold in order to sandwich the bead-finished cuff edge between the grip surfaces. Move relative to
-With the bead-finished cuff edge sandwiched between the narrowed gaps, the grip surface is relatively moved away from the dip mold in order to completely remove the glove from the dip mold. Configured to continue.

A third aspect of the present invention is a production line for producing a plurality of immersion-molded elastomer gloves.
-Multiple immersion molds for immersion molding and
-A dip molding stage for coating and curing the gloves on the dip mold, and
-The cuff end of the glove is configured to partially withdraw the cured glove from the dip mold and the bead-finished opening end of the glove is at the lowest position from the dip molding dip mold. A glove portion extraction device for being suspended, wherein the cuff end has a first material thickness and the bead-finished cuff edge has a second material thickness. A glove partial extraction device having a first thickness thinner than the second thickness, and a glove extraction device configured to completely remove the partially extracted glove from the immersion mold-the immersion. It is provided with a glove partial extraction device and a transfer device for transporting the mold from the dip molding stage to the glove extraction device.
-The glove removing device is a production line according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Even if the production line is further provided with a transport device for transporting the immersion mold from the dip molding stage to the glove extractor and a transport surface for transporting the extracted gloves away from the gloves of the glove extractor. Good. The glove removal device can then be configured to repeatedly remove the gloves from the immersion mold and deposit the removed gloves on the conveyor.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the glove has already been partially removed, the glove is a method for completely removing the glove from the immersion mold for immersion molding by using the glove extraction device. Each glove that has been pulled out has a cuff end that is terminated by a bead-finished cuff edge suspended from the immersion mold, and the bead-finished cuff edge is a material for the cuff end. Thicker material, the glove remover is relative to the drive system for gripping and removing the partially removed glove from the immersion mold and the suspended cuff end. The gripping device includes at least two gripping members including a first gripping member and a second gripping member, and the first and second gripping members are movable relative to each other. , and the and the bunch lifting surface you face, provided on both sides of the gap that the first and second gripping members are closest, the drive system, the first and second gripping members Provided a method configured to change the width of the gap by moving them relative to each other.
The above method
-The grip surface is moved so as to be relatively separated to increase the width of the gap, and the bead-finished cuff edge of the glove is suspended in an open space below the grip surface. In this state, position the gripping surfaces moved so as to be separated from each other on both sides of the suspended cuff end.
-The gripping surfaces are moved relative to each other to narrow the width of the gap, the cuff end is restricted between the gripping surfaces, and the narrowed gap is narrowed by the bead-finished cuff edge. Narrow enough to prevent it from passing upwards through the gap, but wide enough to allow the cuff end to pass upwards.
-When the cuff end moves upward through the narrowed gap, the grip surfaces are relatively moved to sandwich the bead-finished cuff edge between the grip surfaces.
-With the bead-finished cuff edge sandwiched between the narrowed gaps, the grip surface is relatively separated from the dip mold in order to completely remove the glove from the dip mold. The drive system is used to keep it moving.

Preferably, the gap before accepting the cuff end extends substantially horizontally.

This method can include moving one grip member towards both the cuff end and the other grip member while narrowing the gap.

This method also includes the step of orienting the glove in a substantially horizontal direction so that after the glove is completely plucked, it deposits continuously on a substantially horizontal surface, and the first step. It may include moving the gripping member and the second gripping member relative to each other to release the cuff end.

In one embodiment of the invention, this method is performed only at the cuff end closest to the cuff edge where the glove is beaded using the first and second gripping members after the glove has been completely removed. Includes the step of holding and at the same time accelerating the glove substantially downwards and then substantially horizontally. The effect is that the glove is flattened by its own inertia and / or by aerodynamic resistance before being released in a direction substantially horizontal to the sedimentary surface.

One or both of the opposing gripping surfaces may be raised protrusions towards the gap. This method then narrows the gap sufficiently so that the material of the bead-finished cuff edge does not pass, and both the first grip member and the second grip member are downward toward the bead-finished cuff edge. When moved to, it may include the step of moving the opposing gripping surfaces relative to each other until the material at the cuff ends is wide enough to slide freely between the opposing gripping surfaces.

At least one of the opposing gripping surfaces may be the rolling surface of the roller, according to the method.
-The gap is sufficiently narrow to prevent the material of the bead-finished cuff edge from passing through the facing gripping surfaces, and the material of the cuff end is the material of the facing gripping surface. relatively moving towards one another to a sufficient narrow enough to be held between, and - a lower lateral movement of the cuff edge and the bead finish of the first gripping member and the second gripping member It may include moving the rolling surface for facilitation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a production line for producing a plurality of immersion molded elastomer gloves in which each glove has a finger portion and a cuff end portion, and the cuff end portion is terminated by a bead-finished cuff edge portion. in a production line process for manufacturing a plurality of dipping molding submerged in the production line conveyor device, dip molding stage includes a glove portion extraction stage and gloves complete extraction stage, using the transport device ，
-The immersion molding stage in which the resin is coated and cured on the immersion mold to form the gloves.
-The bead-finished cuff edge is formed at the end of the cuff end, after which the cuff end is withdrawn from the immersion mold and the bead-finished cuff edge of the glove is at the lowest position. Suspended from the immersion mold in a certain state, the cuff end has a first material thickness, the bead-finished cuff edge has a second material thickness, and the first thickness. The glove is partially removed using the glove partial extraction stage, which is thinner than the second thickness, and-a method for completely removing the glove from the immersion mold for immersion molding according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The glove complete extraction stage, in which the glove extracted in the glove is completely extracted from the immersion mold, provides a process for sequentially moving the immersion molding immersion mold.

In various embodiments of the invention, the bead-finished edges are held in a defined position within the glove stripper, i.e., in a defined position with respect to the first and second gripping members. This relative position can be repeated from one glove to the next, regardless of the length of the end of the glove suspended from the immersion mold.

It is a special advantage of the present invention that this position may be the result of a natural process of stopping or getting caught in the gap because the beaded edges are too large to easily pass through the gap. Therefore, the present invention requires more complex equipment and methods to achieve this alignment, for example, using a sensor machine vision system to detect the position of beaded edges. To avoid.

The gloves are then held in place by the beaded cuff edges at the clearly defined positions of the gloves, so that the gloves are of each glove deposited along the longitudinal axis of the glove. It can be deposited more easily with little change in position. This simplifies packing into packs for subsequent processing of gloves and distribution of boxes from dispensers, etc. Folding gloves by machine to remove the cuff first is also simplified. Ultimately, the gloves are packed more evenly, so more gloves can be packed in the box dispenser.

Therefore, the present invention automatically aligns the bead-finished edges of the extracted glove with respect to the first and second gripping members before the glove gripper transfers the glove to the next processing stage. As a result, the gloves can be delivered in a predetermined, well-defined physical direction for the next processing stage.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described as a mere example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of a production line according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for producing a plurality of hollow elastomer gloves, the glove being a disposable nitrile glove in this example, a pair of tracks in which the production line goes through a series of process steps. To be equipped with. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a segment of the production line of FIG. 1 showing how each track has multiple suspended hand-shaped immersion molds, each of which has already dip-coated the gloves. Each glove is hardened and partially removed, and the cuff end of the glove is hung so that the beaded cuff edge is at the lowest position. One of the glove extraction devices according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, which has one gripping device for completely removing the immersion-molded elastomer gloves partially extracted from the hand-molded immersion-molded immersion mold of FIG. It is a perspective view of a part. It is a perspective view of the modification of the glove pulling-out device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention which has 3 gripping devices. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a gripping device showing how the gripping device has two gripping members having corresponding gripping surfaces separated by a gap. When the cuff end suspended from the immersion mold for dip molding is between the grip members, how one of the grip members is moved toward the other grip member by the grip drive device, whereby the cuff end is moved. Loosely restricted, but indicates whether it is held or not held between the gripping surfaces. How to move the gripping device downward so that the cuff end slides relatively upward between the gripping surfaces until the beaded cuff edge at the end of the cuff end stops between the gripping surfaces. Indicates. It is a perspective view of the glove complete extraction station including the glove extraction device of FIG. 3, and the suspended glove cuff end is conveyed in the longitudinal direction in a configuration opened by its immersion type between the gripping members. FIG. 8 is a perspective view following FIG. 8 showing how the gripping members are laterally moved towards a narrowed configuration with an obstruction-free clear gap separating the opposing gripping surfaces. The empty gap is larger than the total material thickness at the cuff end, which is only loosely restricted. FIG. 9 is a perspective view following FIG. 9, in which the gripping device is moved downward by the extraction drive device so as to be separated from the immersion mold, and as a result, the bead-finished cuff edge moves toward the gap and the gripping surface. Engage with and then show if the elastomer gloves are stretched and removed from the dip-molded dip mold. FIG. 10 is a perspective view following FIG. 10, showing how the extraction drive moves laterally from the dip-molded immersion mold while pulling the glove through air from the bead-finished cuff edge in a substantially horizontal direction. Indicates whether to continue moving downward and laterally. FIG. 11 is a perspective view following FIG. 11 showing how the gripping drive moves towards an open configuration for flatly depositing gloves on a moving conveyor. It is a partial side view of the second embodiment of the extraction device for completely removing a partially extracted glove from the immersion mold. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing how a glove once completely removed by the extraction device of FIG. 13 falls and is supported by a support surface extending laterally so as to be separated from a pair of opposing rollers. FIG. 5 is a side view showing how the rollers, once receiving the end of the glove, are moved together to hold the end loosely between the opposing surface portions of the roller. FIG. 15 is a side view following FIG. 15, showing how the bead-finished cuff edge of the glove is sandwiched between the facing surface portions when the extraction device is moved downward with respect to the immersion mold. FIG. 16 is a side view following FIG. 16, where once the glove is completely removed from the immersion mold , how the device rotates and moves downward and sideways away from the immersion mold and the track of the production line. ， Thereby indicating whether the fully removed glove is placed on a support platform that extends laterally away from the first roller of the plurality of rollers. FIG. 17 is a side view following FIG. 17, showing how the glove is released onto the receiving surface by the opposing rolling surfaces. It is a side view following FIG. 18, and is the one when the glove is almost completely discharged from the mobile conveyor.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of production line 1, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of segments of the production line for use in various embodiments of the invention described in detail below. In this example, the production line has a transport device which is a pair of track conveyors 6 and 6'for transporting a series of suspended immersion molds 4 for immersion molding, on which gloves 2 have already been immersion molded. ， Subsequently hardened. In this example, the immersion type is arranged with the centers separated by 200 mm.

The gloves are made of an elastomeric material, in this example a disposable nitrile inspection glove for use in medical, dental, veterinary or food cooking applications, but the principles of the invention are similarly thin. It is a flexible elastomeric material and can be applied to other types of dip-molded gloves with beaded edges. Gloves are formed in a dip mold 4 for dip molding using a manufacturing process well known to those skilled in the art. In this example, there are two parallel tracks 6, 6', each carrying a chain (not shown), with a series of mounts 8 regularly spaced from the chain for each immersion type. It is hung one by one. Each line of the immersion type 4 moves at a stable forward speed of 99.

The movement of the immersion mold 4 along the track defines a horizontal longitudinal direction, and a right angle to this, a horizontal lateral direction. In FIG. 2, these directions are classified as the x-axis and the y-axis, respectively, and the vertical direction is classified as the z-axis.

The immersion type 4 passes through several preceding processing stages before reaching the glove remover of the present invention, all of which are well known in the art. The main stage includes an immersion cleaning stage 11 in which the immersion mold is immersed in an acidic bath so that all residues are cleaned from the immersion mold. The washed immersion mold then proceeds to the immersion coating stage 12, followed by the curing stage 13, forming gloves 2 on each immersion mold 4. Overall, the cleaning, dipping coating and curing conditions can be said to provide a dipping molding stage.

Following the dip molding stage, the glove cuff end is rolled back at the first portion of the glove portion extraction stage 14 to impart a bead-finished edge 3 to the opening at the end 5 of each glove. Since the bead-finished edge is formed from the rolled-up portion of the glove material, the bead-finished edge is thicker than the adjacent cuff portion 10 of the glove. The bead imparts mechanical strength to the cuff end 5 during use, but is also useful when the glove is partially removed from the immersion mold.

As shown in FIG. 2, each glove 2 has already been partially removed from the immersion mold 4 at the glove partial extraction stage 14 of FIG. Although not shown in the drawing, one known way to do this is to introduce a blade under the end of the glove, which is here the cuff 10 of the glove, then the edge of the cuff to the finger part of the glove. Blow or pull towards 7. This tends to retract the gloves and fold them back. This is done in the manufacturing environment, using known techniques, so that part of the glove, or preferably the entire finger portion 7, remains attached to the immersion mold 4, beaded edge 3 of the glove and adjacent. It is possible to allow the cuff portion 10 to be freely suspended under the weight of these separated glove portions.

The finger portion 7 of the glove is composed of four fingers 17 of the glove and a thumb 19 of one glove. Preferably, these parts are symmetrical between the anterior 9 and the posterior 9'(see FIGS. 6 and 7) of the opposing gloves, and each glove is both-handed, i.e. the user's left or right hand. Make it equally suitable for wearing on either.

The glove partial extraction station or stage 14 is then followed by the glove complete extraction station or stages 15, 15'115, which are the subjects of various embodiments of the invention described in detail below.

In known manufacturing systems, this step is often done manually and the operator manually pulls on the glove to remove it from the immersion mold. Alternatively, it is known to use a pair of opposing rolling rollers or belts that have a pair of opposing rolling surfaces. These rolling surfaces firmly grip the end 10 of the glove between them and pull the glove completely out of the immersion mold to release the glove downward. The released gloves are then placed on a cluttered stack of gloves beneath each pair of rollers, as described, for example, in China Utility Model Registration No. 202439169, or at International Patent Publication No. It falls on a mobile belt conveyor as described in 2014/122595. Such known manufacturing systems hang in the vertical z-axis, wherever they happen to come across, with the resulting changes in the position or timing of the final release of the glove from the rotating roller or belt. Grasp the cuff to be lowered.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, a feature of the known glove partial extraction device is that the amount of the cuff or end 10 of the glove suspended from the immersion mold 4 differs depending on the immersion mold. Although not shown, some gloves may not be successfully partially removed from the immersion mold, resulting in the possibility that the gloves will not be completely removed by the subsequent full removal stage 15. is there. Therefore, a final manual process stage 16 is usually required that allows the operator to still pull off the gloves attached to the immersion mold.

Non-uniform partial extraction ensures regular placement of fully removed gloves in areas where gloves are deposited, such as static and growing piles of gloves or mobile conveyor belts. Another result is that this is difficult with the known complete sampling process.

3 and 4 show two modifications of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the glove complete extraction station or the stages 15 and 15'have the glove extraction devices 20 and 20', respectively, and are immersed. It has one or three gripping devices 25 for completely removing the partially removed glove 2 from the molding immersion mold. The configuration of the gripping device 25 and the operation of the first modification of the glove removal station are shown in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 12. As will be described below, each gripping device includes a glove gripping drive device.

13 and 14 show another embodiment of the gripping device 125 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the operation as a part of the glove complete extraction station or the stage 115 is more detailed in FIGS. 15 to 19. Shown in.

Both embodiments include a robot arm 35 that provides a glove removal drive and a related control unit 50 for synchronously controlling the movements of both the robot arm and the gripping devices 25, 125.

There is a limit to the speed of movement of the robot arm and gripping devices 25, 125, so for efficiency, each of the robot and related gripping devices 25, 125 is preferably two immersion molding manufacturing line tracks 6,6. It is configured to pull out the glove 2 from only one track, not from both of the'. In addition, each production line track may have multiple robot arms and associated gripping devices. For example, a robot arm 35 provided with one gripping device 25, 125 can pull out and deposit one glove every 1.8 seconds. Current production lines for dip-molded gloves typically produce up to about 10,000 gloves per track per hour. This is equivalent to the immersion mold for immersion molding moving at the speed of one glove every 0.36 seconds along each track 6, 6'. If the distance between the centers of the gloves is 200 mm, the typical track speed will be up to about 1.8 m / s. Therefore, at the speed of this line, the robot arm 35, which has a cycle time of 1.8 seconds and has a single gripping device, can only be pulled out every 5 gloves, so in practice each perfect. There are five separate robot arms and associated gripping devices for each track 6, 6'at the extraction stations 15, 115. Of course, it is possible to reduce the cycle time by driving the sampling drive using lightweight materials or more powerful motors. However, a single gripping device is cheaper than a single robot arm, and therefore it is preferable that a plurality of gripping devices 25, 125 are connected to each other, for example, as shown in FIG. The number of robot arms required at the glove removal station can be reduced. For ease of explanation, the following description relates to the use of only one gripping device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present invention are equally applicable when one robot arm is connected to multiple gripping devices.

The gripping devices 25 and 125 are connected to the operating end 27 of the robot arm 35. The robot arm has several pivot joints 29, 31, 33, 37, 39 and internal motors (not shown) that may be electric or hydraulic, which are manufactured for immersion molding at the operating end 27 of the arm. Free movement along three orthogonal linear axes (x, y, z) with respect to the direction of line tracks 6 and 6'(see FIG. 2), and the direction of movement of the immersion type 4 along the production line tracks 6 and 6'. The x-axis is the free rotation of the center and the z-axis is the free rotation of the center. The configuration of this type of robot arm 35 is itself conventional and is well known to those skilled in the art of robotic drive devices, and will not be described in more detail.

The pivot joint and motor of the robot arm 35 provide a glove removal drive for the glove removal devices 20, 20', 120.

In both embodiments, the removed gloves are deposited on the receiving surface 70. This receiving surface is preferably the belt transport surface of the belt conveyor 72 that moves forward 74 in the longitudinal direction at the same speed as the glove immersion type 4. However, the glove receiving surface may be essentially immobile, in which case a bundle of gloves is formed on the receiving surface and can then be removed on a regular basis. Further, the receiving surface may be the inner surface of the box on which the gloves are deposited.

In the first embodiment of the glove complete extraction station or stages 15, 15', the robot arm 35 is on the right side of the receiving surface 70 of the belt conveyor 72 with respect to its moving direction 74. The line of immersion mold 4 is on the opposite side. In the second embodiment, the robot arm is on the left side of the receiving surface of the belt conveyor and on the same side as the line of the immersion type 4. Apart from these differences and the actual attachment of the gripping devices 25, 125 at the robot arm end 27, the robot arm is the same in both embodiments.

Next, the gripping device 25 of the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 showing the configuration and operation of the gripping device along the central plane extending in the vertical direction across the gripping device. .. Each gripping device 25 includes support arms 21 and 21', the end 23 of which is connected to the end 27 of the robot arm, and the gripping device 25 is movable relative to the suspended cuff end 10. To be there. The mass of the support arm should be minimized to help reduce the device cycle time. Therefore, the support arm can include one or more notches 41 and can be made of a lightweight and rigid material such as a carbon fiber composite.

The gripping device 25 includes a gripping drive device 32, and in this example, the gripping drive device 32 is a linearly operated piston driven by pneumatic pressure, and its operation is controlled by a control unit 50. The gripping drive device 32, the robot arm 35, and the control unit 50 are all provided with a drive device system for gripping and pulling out the gloves 2 partially pulled out from the immersion mold 4.

Bunch JiSo location 25, in this example, two gripping members, i.e., having a first gripping member 24 and the second gripping member 26, which are laterally movable with respect to each other. The gripping members 24, 26 extend substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction, preferably at substantially the same height as each other. Further, the gripping members are preferably linear and parallel to each other, and preferably substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, which is the movement along the x-axis of the immersion type 4 along the production line tracks 6 and 6'. Therefore, the gripping members are separated in the lateral y-axis direction by an obstacle-free gap 40, in which the distance between the first gripping member and the second gripping member described above is minimized. ing. In this example, the gap is the groove between the two gripping members. Each grip member 24, 26 comprises a corresponding grip surface 34, 36 that is directed inward across the gap 40 and towards the other grip surface. When the grip members move to a relatively distant open configuration, the gap has a first width, and when the grip members move to a narrowed or narrowed configuration that is relatively close to each other, the gap has a second width. Have. Therefore, the second width is smaller than the first width.

Below the gap is an opening space or void 58. The opening space extends below the gripping surface along the overall length of the gap 40 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the gap exhibits an upward opening for receiving the suspended cuff end 10 between the gripping surfaces 34 and 36 and in the opening space 58. In this example, there are only two gripping members, each extending continuously on either side of the gap 40. However, it is possible to provide a larger number of gripping members, such as several separate gripping members spaced apart in the longitudinal direction.

The gripping members are 24,26 movable relative to each other so that the gap 40 can be narrowed or opened. In this example, the first gripping member 24 is fixedly attached to the support arms 21 and 21', and the second gripping member 26 is slidably attached to the support arm and fixed to the support arm. It is fixed to a reciprocating table 28 that can move linearly on the track 30.

The gap 40 extends longitudinally to the side 43 of the gripping device or member facing the approaching cuff end 10. The advantage of having open gaps both above and upstream of the immersion production lines 6, 6'is that this facilitates the cuff end entry into the gap. Since the right side 45 on the opposite side of the gripping device is also open, the gripping device can be used as an alternative, if necessary, in the mirror image direction of the immersion production lines 6, 6'.

The gripping members 24 and 26 are convex in the cross section extending vertically in the gap. In this example, these gripping members are rounded, lip-shaped or raised protrusions or protrusions that extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction, preferably in part in a cylindrical shape. Preferably, the gripping surface of at least one gripping member projects an open space or gap 58 below the gap when the gap is open. The corresponding gripping surfaces 34, 36 exhibit a downward facing funnel leading to the stenosis at the narrowest portion of the gap when moved relatively close together.

The arms 21 and 21'have elongated main body portions 22 and 22' that extend away from the end 27 of the robot arm 35 and are terminated by L-shaped protrusions 38 and 38'. The L-shaped protrusions 38, 38'have a first proximal portion 48, 48'extending from the lower 54, 54' of the arm bodies 22, 22'and a second distal extending vertically upward from the first portion. It has parts 56, 56'. The fixed grip member 24 is attached to the top of the distal portions 56, 56'of the protrusions 38, 38', and the movable grip member is slidably attached above the body portions 22, 22'. The arm bodies 22, 22'and the L-shaped protrusions 38, 38'have a substantially U-shaped cross section, so that the inside thereof is a glove cuff end portion 10 suspended under a gap of each gripping device 25. An opening space 58 is provided for receiving the above. Therefore, in this example, the opening space 58 is provided by recesses 55 at the ends 38, 54 of the arms 21 and 21', which recesses are substantially U-shaped in a vertical plane extending laterally and grip. It faces upward to the member.

When the gripping members move to a configuration that is constricted with respect to each other, the gripping drive device 32 moves the innermost gripping member 26 laterally toward the direction 60 of the fixed gripping member 24 or toward a distance of 60'. Let me.

The recess 55 preferably has a vertical range or depth 61 sufficient to prevent the cuff end 10 suspended at the lowest expected position from dragging the bottom surface or floor surface 63 of the recess. In this example, the maximum width of the gap is about 50 mm to 125 mm and the depth of the opening space is 75 mm to 150 mm. The protrusion of the fixed grip member 24 projects from the corresponding front wall or outer wall 64, preferably about 5 mm to 10 mm, to provide a minimum opening space on one side of the cuff end 10 and narrow the gap 40. When so, the cuff end 10 held between the gripping members 24, 26 ensures that it continues to be suspended freely. Therefore, the bead-finished cuff edge 3 freely moves in the opening space 58.

The protrusion of the movable grip member 26 is also part of the slider 28 and therefore protrudes from the rear or inner wall 65 that moves with the movable grip member 26. When the lateral dimension of the gap 40'is narrowed, the movable grip member protrusion 26 and the attached inner wall 65 both project the corresponding lower inner wall 66 of the recess 55 . These features also provide a space for the cuff end 10 that is loosely held between the gripping members 24, 26 when the gap 40'is narrowed.

8 to 12 show how the glove 2 is pulled out from the immersion mold 4 for immersion molding and deposited on the deposition surface 70. Although the operation of the robot arm 35 and the movement of the gripping drive device 32 are described below. , The control unit 50 synchronizes with the position of the moving immersion mold and the position of the glove end suspended from the immersion mold. Therefore, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, in both the first and second embodiments, the control unit 50 optionally has a mobile immersion in the robot arm and gripping device of the extraction stations 15, 15'115. With respect to the position of the mold 4, it may be connected to the sensor 51 of the immersion molding production lines 6, 6', which gives a signal 53 to the control unit. Another method of synchronizing the robot arm 35 and the gripping drive 32 with the position of the glove 2 on the immersion mold for immersion molding, although not shown, is the end of each cuff suspended using a machine vision system. The position of 10 is measured, and then the output from this system is given to the control unit.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, after moving the gripping device to a position where the robot arm 35 receives the glove cuff end portion 10, once it is received between the gripping members 24 and 26. , The gripping drive device 32 moves the second gripping member in the direction 60 of the first gripping member, reduces the size of the gap 40'to a second width smaller than the first width, and faces each other. Without any restriction or obstruction from the grip surfaces 34, 36, the narrowed gap should be wide enough for the cuff end to move freely across the gap. Generally, the narrowed gaps 40', 140', i.e., one or more voids, are at the three interfaces between the opposing gripping members 24, 26, 124, 126, where the gripping surfaces of the restricted gaps. in both embodiments of the present invention but shown in enlarged inset of FIG. 6 and FIG. 15 which illustrates that the nearest both of these interfaces, the outer surfaces 9 facing the gloves' , Two interfaces 43, 43', 143, 143'between the opposing gripping surfaces 34, 36, 134, 136, and the interface 43 between the glove inner surface 9 "inside the hollow cuff end. It is ", 143".

However, some contact between the end of the glove and the gripping surface of the narrowed gap can result in some friction. This is especially true if both gripping surfaces are on rollers that rotate freely in response to such friction. In all cases, the cuff end is then restricted, but can move at least upward freely between the opposing grip surfaces 34, 36, 134, 136, and the bead-finished cuff edge 3 Is below the narrowed or narrowed gaps 40', 140'.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the robot arm then moves or pivots downward 46, and the first and second gripping members 24, 26 are both downward toward the bead-finished cuff edge 3. The restricted cuff end 10 moves upward with respect to the narrowed gap 40'until it is moved and the beaded cuff edge is pinched by the narrowed gap in the neck of the funnel that opens downward. To do.

In this regard, from FIGS. 6 and 15, the glove end 10 has a first material thickness 42 and the bead-finished edge 3 has a second material thickness 44, the first. It can be seen that the thickness is less than the second thickness. These material thicknesses 42,44 are essentially the sum of the thicknesses on both sides of the hollow glove when pressed together as they pass or press against the surface of the narrowed gap 40'. In FIGS. 6 and 15, these first and second thicknesses are represented by two pairs of arrows 42, 44, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 10 and 11, the robot arm lowers the first and second gripping members 24 and 26 together with the bead-finished cuff edge 3 sandwiched between the narrowed gaps 40'. Continue to move to 46 , thereby pulling the cuff end 10 downwards until the glove is completely removed from the immersion mold 4. The glove 2 may be stretched first before being pulled away from the immersion mold and freed, and the reaction force to this stretch is beneficially limited underneath the gap 40', with a beaded cuff edge. Encourage the part to be firmly fixed in place.

Next, the robot arm 35 continues to move the gripping device 25 downward and further away from the line of the immersion mold 4 for immersion molding in the lateral direction. As a result, the narrowed gap 40'is rotated so that the orientation is substantially vertical. This movement causes the glove, which is held only at the cuff end where it meets the beaded cuff edge, to fall in a more horizontal direction. The speed of the gripping device can be accelerated by the robot arm, and as a result, the inertia of the glove, as well as the air resistance, tends to flatten the glove as it rotates horizontally. The speed of the glove when approaching the sedimentary surface 70 is preferably between about 0.3 m / s and 0.6 m / s.

As the glove approaches the deposition surface, the gripping drive 32 opens a gap 40 and begins 60'. When the glove finger portion 7 begins to come into contact with the deposited surface, the glove cuff end portion 10 falls out from between the opposing gripping surfaces 34 and 36 due to air resistance and frictional resistance. The glove 2 falls freely there and deposits laterally substantially flat on the deposition surface 70.

Optionally, the robot arm 35 can also move the gripping device 25 with a longitudinal component of motion to match the forward velocity 74 of the deposit surface.

As can be understood from the above description, the robot arm is provided with a sampling drive device for completely removing the glove from the immersion mold for immersion molding.

The gripping drive 32 then opens a gap 40 while moving upwards and laterally toward the line of immersion type 4 in a different direction to rise substantially from below the next glove to be completely removed 60. 'to continue. The cuff end 10 is received inside the upwardly facing recess 55 , after which the cycle described above is repeated.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a part of the extraction device 120 according to the second embodiment of the present invention for completely removing the partially extracted glove 2 from the immersion mold 4. In the second embodiment, the gripping device 125 has a gripping member that is a roller, and the gripping surface is a gripping surface of the roller. FIG. 14 shows how the glove once completely removed falls and extends away from the first grip member 124 and the second grip member 126, which here are a pair of opposing rollers 124, 126. It is a perspective view which shows whether it is supported by a support surface or a platform 122. In this example, the platform 122 is closest to the first roller 124. As in the case of the first embodiment, there is an opening space or a gap 158 under the gripping members 124, 126.

The first and second rollers are either co-operatively configured or arranged in parallel so that the pair of opposing roller surfaces 134, 136 face each other. The opposing roller surfaces 134, 136 are adjacent to the support platform 122.

As described in more detail below, the pair of rollers can be operated to roll in opposite directions, first from between the opposing surfaces, to release the glove from the bead edge.

The glove complete removal station or stage 115 also includes a plurality of drive devices that operate under the control of the control unit, which may be the same control unit 50 as described above, but the second grip device 125. Programmed to be operable in the embodiment, both comprising a synchronized set of gripping drive and sampling drive.

The second roller 126 is mounted on a linearly movable reciprocating platform 128 formed by a pair of opposed mounting or support brackets, each of which is slidable on the track 130. The first roller 124 is fixed by a pair of end brackets 138 fixed and attached to the same track. One of the drive devices is a linear piston actuator 132 configured to move the second roller 126 along the track 130 in a direction 160 and away from the first roller 124 in a direction 160'. , 132'. The closest approaching part is in a state where the first and second facing surfaces 134 and 136 are almost touched, and the closest approaching part is the first and second facing parts as shown by the broken line in FIG. The facing surfaces 134, 136'are separated by a gap 140 having a first width. This width is suspended between the opposing surfaces 134, 136 when the roller is centered under the immersion mold 4 and moves relatively upward towards the immersion mold 4 when oriented horizontally. Larger than large enough to receive the end of the glove being lowered.

The complete extraction device 120 includes a robot arm 35, which is here attached to the rear or lower 137 of the support platform 122. The robot arm has some degree of freedom to move in a straight line and in rotation, as shown by the arrows in the drawing, which is most clearly shown in FIG. The movement of the robot arm and the movement of the rollers are synchronized with the position of the moving immersion mold and the position of the glove end suspended from the immersion mold.

As shown in FIG. 15, after the glove cuff end is received between the rollers 124 and 126 and the cuff end is freely suspended in the opening space 158, the piston drive device 132 is set to the first. The narrowed gap is just wide enough to move the second roller towards the first roller so that the cuff end moves through a gap with some voids 143,143'on at least one roller surface. As shown in the enlarged insertion view of FIG. 15, the size of the gap 140'is narrowed to a second width smaller than the first width, so that there is no restriction on the opposing roller surfaces 134 and 136. To. However, some contact between the surface and the glove can result in some friction between the end of the glove and the surface of the narrowed gap. This is especially true if there are some voids 143 "between the inner surfaces 9" of the glove, or if both rollers rotate freely in response to such friction.

As in the first embodiment, the front side 9'and the rear side 9'of the glove slide freely in the longitudinal direction with respect to each other when the cuff end comes into contact with the opposing gripping surfaces of the restricted gap. The advantage of this is that both sides 9, 9'of the glove cuff end 10 slide until the beaded cuff edge 3 touches the surfaces 134, 136 of the narrowed or restricted gap 140'. This will result in each of the opposing sides 9, 9'of the cuff end 10 of the glove being aligned with a straight line at the edge of the beaded cuff.

In FIG. 15, as described above with respect to FIG. 6, the end 10 of the glove has a first material thickness 42, the bead-finished edge 3 has a second material thickness 44, and the first It can be seen that the thickness of is thinner than the above-mentioned second thickness. These material thicknesses 42,44 are essentially the sum of the thicknesses on both sides of the hollow glove as they are pressed together as they pass through or press against the narrowed gap 140'. As in the case of FIG. 6, these first thickness and the second thickness are represented by two pairs of arrows 42 and 44 in FIG. 15, respectively.

Similar to the first embodiment, in the narrowed gap 140', the glove end 10 is loosely held between the rollers, but the bead-finished cuff edge 3 easily passes through the narrowed gap. Is set to have a material thickness 44 that is too large.

When the pair of rollers 124, 126 move upward toward the suspended cuff end 10, the first roller is first moved so that the first roller 124 does not interfere with the cuff end 10. The cuff end 10 is laterally separated to one side of the expected position, then the second roller is moved inward in the opposite direction 260 and at the same time the robot arm is moved inward 160. ， Thus narrows the gap 140 to some extent. In this way, the gap is substantially centered relative to the suspended end of the glove.

Therefore, the first roller 124 and the second roller 126 move 160,260 with respect to the glove end 10 until the ends are held between the opposing portions 134, 136 of the roller surface.

As shown in FIG. 16, in the next processing step, a robotic arm 35 is used to engage or pinch the beaded cuff edge 3 with the narrowed gap 140'together with the first roller 124. The roller 126 of 2 is moved downward together with respect to the immersion mold 146. When this happens, the rest of the gloves 7 begins to be removed from the immersion mold. In the first and second embodiments, the force required to pull out the glove 2 is less than the force required to compress the beaded cuff edge 3 by the narrowed gaps 40', 140'. As long as it works the same.

To ensure that the bead-finished cuff edge 3 does not squeeze the narrowed gap, the piston 132 can be optionally actuated to close the gap, and the lowest suspended cuff. Once the downward movement 146 has progressed to a location where even the bead-finished edge 3 at the end is sandwiched between the gaps, the cuff end is held firmly. Optionally, the first embodiment may employ this technique.

As in the first embodiment, the opposing grip surfaces 134, 136 have a funnel that opens downward, and the bead-finished cuff edge 3 is sandwiched therein.

As the pair of rollers move further downward, the cuff end 10 and then the four fingers 7 of the glove are completely pulled from the immersion mold 4, which causes the robot arm 35 to support the platform 122 and the pair of rollers. The 124, 126 are moved laterally 152 with respect to the roller shafts 154, 156, and at the same time, the support platform 122 is rotated 153 in a more horizontal direction. The rollers 124, 126 are attached to the same support structures 130, 138 as the platform and therefore move with the platform. Therefore, when the gap between the rollers 124 and 126 is separated from the horizontal direction, it rotates at the same time. Therefore, the support platform rotates to be closer in the horizontal direction so that the gloves are placed in contact with the platform in a substantially flat orientation, while at the same time moving the gap between the rollers in a more upright orientation. ， Make sure that the elastomer gloves are released substantially laterally rather than downwards. This contributes to the gloves being laid flat after release.

In this example, the platform 122 has a support surface 123 that is flat, the plane of the support surface is tangential to the roller surface 134 of the first roller 124, and the elastomer gloves are in the first position during discharge. To move substantially linearly towards the roller plane of the elastomer, and preferably also substantially along the narrowed gap 140'so that the elastomeric gloves travel substantially linearly towards the gap during release. To do.

Note that the platform is initially substantially upright within 45 ° of vertical. This arrangement allows the support platform to fit into the space between the immersion paired lines. Further, when the support platform moves laterally toward a substantially horizontal direction, the air pressure exerted on the falling glove due to the rotation 153 and the linear movement 152 of the platform stretches the glove finger portion 7 and supports the support platform. Encourage them to land virtually flat on top. This helps prevent the formation of wrinkles on the gloves and is of particular benefit.

Optionally, the second roller may be configured to rotate about the first roller when the gap is narrowed and the glove end is held in the gap. This is shown in FIG. 18, which shows that the second roller 126 has moved relatively above the first roller 124. This movement is performed by a drive, which may also include a motor to drive the rotation of the second roller when the glove is later released. The drive and motor are schematically shown in FIG. 14 with a dashed outline 68 on the outside of the support bracket 128. For clarity, this drive and motor are not shown in other FIGS. 13 and 15-19.

The first roller 124 has a fixed rotating shaft 154, but may include a motor to drive the rotation of the first roller when the glove is later released. The drive and motor are schematically shown in FIG. 14 by a dashed contour 168 on the outside of one of the support brackets 138. For clarity, this motor is not shown in other FIGS. 13 and 15-19.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, it is preferable that both the first and second rollers 124 and 126 are rotationally driven 59 and 159 by the motors 68 and 168 when the gloves are being released. At least one of the rollers 124,126 has such a motor. Although not shown, it is possible to use one motor and a belt or gear mechanism that connects the two rollers together instead of the two motors. If one of the rollers is not driven by a motor but instead rotates freely, the rollers are rotated by frictional contact with the gloves when the gloves are pulled by the opposing parts during ejection.

The advantage of moving the second roller above the first roller is that the line of movement of the glove resting on the support platform is kept substantially straight until the glove exits the gap between the rollers. is there. Similar effects can be achieved by fixing the shafts 154 and 156 of both rollers to each other and having a support platform that is rotatable with respect to the pair of rollers.

18 and 19 show how the glove is released onto the receiving surface 70 by the opposing rolling surfaces. The robot arm moves laterally posteriorly 174 at a speed below the same speed at which the released glove is placed on the receiving surface 70 so that the beaded edge 3 of the cuff is not dragged on the receiving surface. To. In practice, the glove fingers tend to curl up and fall flat after being completely released, so slow the laterally backward velocity somewhat to ensure that they are not dragged on the receiving surface. You may.

The receiving surface 70 is preferably that of the belt conveyor 72 described above with respect to the first embodiment, in which case the robot arm advances in the same direction and speed as the transport surface during the release of the elastomer gloves. The robot arm then deposits each glove separately on the transport surface, separated by a distance. Over that distance, the transport surface advances during each cycle of the device.

Alternatively, the gloves may be stacked on top of each other at the same position on the receiving surface 70 to form a bundle of gloves. In this case, the robot arm is arranged to release each subsequent glove from a higher height above the sedimentary surface so that the bottom of the extraction device does not interfere with the growing bundle. When the bundle contains the desired number of gloves, the bundle is removed manually or automatically. In the latter case, the receiving surface may be a transport surface that moves only when each bundle is completed.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the glove is released, the robot arm 35 rotates the support platform 122 and returns it in the upright direction to bring the pair of rollers closer to the receiving surface, and the glove finger portion 7 is the receiving surface. Encourage them to rest flat on the 70.

After the glove is completely released, the moving part of the glove removal device 120 returns to its original configuration, after which the process is repeated for the next glove 2 to remove it from the next immersion mold 4.

One optional action that can be used to improve the flatness of the released glove is shown in FIG. 18, in which some air trapped inside the hollow of the glove is compressed, thereby compressing the glove. The finger portion 7 of the is inflated. This helps to flatten the wrinkles so that the fingers of the glove are straight, if they are not separated from each other. In order to prevent the compressed air from tearing the glove finger portion, the second roller is provided with a circumferential groove 176 that allows the air to escape at a controlled speed.

In practice, this device can achieve a cycle time of about 2 to 3 seconds. A typical production rate is a maximum of two gloves per second in a row. Therefore, in practice, about 4 to 6 of the above complete extraction devices are used for each line 6, 6'and can be connected together to use a single robot arm.

The robot arm, together with the drive device and motor described above, which operate under the control of the control unit 50, together form a set of synchronized drive devices configured to sequentially perform the process steps described above.

Once on the transport surface 70, a series of deposited gloves 2 are supplied, for example, to an automatic glove packing station of the type described in International Patent Publication No. 2011/048414.

In the above-described embodiment, the transport surface on which the gloves are deposited moves in the same direction as the immersion mold 4 for immersion molding. The advantage of this configuration is that the depositor does not need to change direction between tracking the moving immersion type and tracking the moving transport surface when depositing gloves.

However, as an alternative, it is possible to reverse the direction of the transport surface, which is parallel to the moving direction of the dipping mold 4 for dip molding, but in the opposite direction. The advantage of this arrangement is that it reduces the total movement made by the reciprocating platform in the longitudinal direction (ie, the direction of immersion movement). Also, since the robot arm 35 can start moving backward in the longitudinal direction when tracking the conveyor, the robot arm 35 is closer to its initial position after depositing gloves on the transport surface. This can provide an important advantage in reducing the achievable cycle time of the device.

A special advantage of the present invention is that the gloves deposited on the receiving surface 70 are kept flatter. In both embodiments, the glove is dropped or released in a substantially horizontal orientation in close proximity to the receiving surface, resulting in the glove being deposited in advance if the receiving surface, or bundle, is formed. Do not allow time to bend or fold in undesired directions before being placed on a worn glove.

Another important advantage of the present invention is that the initial alignment of the beaded edge 3 of the cuff with the opposing grip surfaces 34, 36, 134, 136 is in a predictable manner in which the cuff edge is known. It helps to ensure that it is deposited. For example, glove-to-glove as shown in FIGS. 12 and 19 are deposited with a very consistent and repeatable clearance of 78,178 from the edges 79,179 of the receiving surface 70.

These factors help to make the gloves more consistent and optimize the gloves to overlap each other when the bundle is formed. This in turn contributes to increasing the number of gloves that can be packed in a given volume of glove dispenser.

Although the present invention has been specifically described with respect to the manufacture of disposable hygiene inspection gloves, the principles of the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of flexible gloves, such as cleaning gloves.

Therefore, in the invention described above, in various embodiments, various types of flexible gloves manufactured by the dip molding process are removed from the dip mold and then further processed, eg, on a conveyor. Provided are convenient devices and methods for extraction and subsequent processing when moving into a bundle or box, such as for deposition.

Claims (29)

A glove extraction device for completely removing the partially extracted immersion molded elastomer gloves from the immersion mold by grasping and pulling the suspended cuff end of the glove, and the cuff end is a bead. Terminated at the finished cuff edge, the device comprises a grip device, a grip drive device, a sampling drive device, and a control unit that controls the operation of these drive devices, and the grip device is opposed to the first. The first and second gripping members are provided, and the first and second gripping members are movable relative to each other, and the first and second gripping members are on both sides of the gap closest to each other. The gripping device includes facing gripping surfaces, and the gripping device has an opening space under the gap for receiving a glove cuff end suspended between the immersion mold and the gripping surface. ，
-The first grip member and the second grip member are relatively moved to an open configuration, and the gap is received during use by the suspended cuff end between the grip surfaces. It is spread so as to be freely suspended in the opening space between the gripping surfaces.
-The first grip member and the second grip member are relatively moved to the narrowed configuration, and the gap prevents the bead-finished cuff edge from passing through the narrowed gap. The cuff end is narrowed enough to not block
-The first gripping member and the second gripping member are both moved downward toward the bead-finished cuff edge, and when in use, the cuff end of the opening space performs the bead-finishing. The cuff edge is moved upward through the narrowed gap until it is sandwiched between the gripping surfaces by the narrowed gap.
-The first grip member and the second grip member continue to move downward along with the bead-finished cuff edge sandwiched between the grip surfaces, whereby the glove is completely removed from the immersion mold. A glove puller configured to sequentially use the drive so as to pull the cuff end downward until it is pulled out. The glove removing device according to claim 1, wherein when the gripping surface moves relatively, a funnel shape that opens downward to guide the bead-finished cuff edge portion to the narrowed gap is formed. The glove removing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second gripping members are supported by a support arm, and the opening space is provided by a recess of the support arm. The glove removing device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second gripping members are elongated in the longitudinal direction. The glove removing device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second gripping members are elongated in the longitudinal direction, and the recess is open toward at least one longitudinal end of the first and second gripping members. .. The glove removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gap is a groove between the first and second gripping members. The glove removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gripping drive device is configured to move one gripping member toward the other gripping member. Any of claims 1-7, wherein the control unit is configured to use the drive device after the gloves have been completely removed so that the removed gloves are released in a substantially horizontal direction. The glove removing device according to item 1. The glove removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one or both of the facing gripping surfaces are raised protrusions toward the gap. The glove removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the facing gripping surface is a non-rotatable surface. The restricted cuff end moves upward with respect to the narrowed gap until at least one of the opposing gripping surfaces has the bead-finished cuff edge pinched in the narrowed gap. The glove removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is a rolling surface of a roller configured to sometimes roll upward. The first gripping member is a rotatable first roller having a first roller surface, and the second gripping member is a rotatable second roller having a second roller surface. The first and second roller surfaces are arranged in cooperation with each other so that the respective portions of the first and second roller surfaces face each other and provide the gap, and the gripping drive device and the sampling drive are provided. The device is in use, sequentially under the control of the control unit.
-Positioning the first roller and the second roller so as to provide the gap between the opposing portions of the first and second roller surfaces.
- the cuff end to a cuff edge and the bead finish the cuff end portion in a state in which below the narrowed gap wherein is limited between said first and second roller surface against countercurrent On the other hand, the first roller and the second roller are moved.
- it is moved downwardly toward the cuff edge which both the bead finishing the first roller and the second roller, said first and second roller surface pair direction is narrowed above both Rotate upward in the gap so that the restricted cuff end moves upward with respect to the narrowed gap until the bead-finished cuff edge is pinched by the narrowed gap.
-Until the glove is completely removed from the immersion mold, the first roller and the second roller are continuously moved downward together with the bead-finished cuff edge sandwiched between the narrowed gaps. The glove removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is configured to pull the restricted cuff end portion downward. Rotation to the above the first and second rollers face pairs direction within the narrowed gap, said first and second rollers when moving downward, the limited cuff end The glove removing device according to claim 12, which is driven by the pull. One of the extracted gloves arranged adjacent to the first roller and extending away from the cuff end restricted between the opposing portions of the first and second roller surfaces. The glove removal device according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising a support platform arranged to provide a support portion for the portion. The glove removing device according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising a rotation driving device, wherein at least one rotation of the first roller and the second roller is driven by the rotation driving device. After the glove is completely removed, the rotary drive device drives at least one of the first roller and the second roller so that it is substantially horizontal between the first and second rollers. The glove removing device according to claim 15, wherein the control unit controls the rotation of the rotation driving device so as to release the gloves in a direction. When subordinate to claim 14, the control unit is configured to rotate the first roller and the second roller in opposite directions, whereby the supported portion of the extracted glove. 16 is pulled across the support platform between the first and second roller surfaces, whereby the glove is released between the opposing portions of the first and second roller surfaces. The described glove remover. One or both of the gripping drive device and the extraction drive device are configured to move or position the first roller and the second roller with respect to each other, and the second roller is the said glove. The glove remover according to claim 16 or 17 , which is to be above the first roller prior to release. A production line for producing multiple immersion molded elastomer gloves.
-Multiple immersion molds for immersion molding and
-A dip molding stage that coats and cures the gloves on the dip mold, and
-With the beaded cuff edge of the glove at the lowest position, the hardened glove from the dip mold so that the cuff end of each glove is suspended from the dip mold for dip molding. A glove partial extraction device configured to partially extract, wherein the cuff end has a first material thickness and the bead-finished cuff edge has a second material thickness. , The first thickness is thinner than the second thickness, the glove part extraction device, and
-A production line that includes a glove remover configured to completely remove the partially removed glove from the immersion mold.
-The glove pulling device includes a driving device system for gripping a partially pulled glove and pulling it out from the immersion mold, and a gripping device having first and second gripping members facing each other . first and second gripping members, the gripping surface facing the opposite sides of the gap where the first and second gripping members are closest to each other is provided, the drive system, the first and second gripping It is configured to move the members relative to each other to change the width of the gap.
-The drive system is
-The grip surface is moved so as to be relatively separated to increase the width of the gap, and the bead-finished cuff edge of the glove is suspended in the opening space below the grip surface. In this state, position the gripping surfaces moved so as to be separated from each other on both sides of the suspended cuff end.
-The gripping surface is relatively moved to narrow the width of the gap and the cuff end is restricted between the gripping surfaces, and the narrowed gap is such that the bead-finished cuff edge is narrowed. Narrow enough to prevent it from passing upwards through the gap, but wide enough to allow the cuff end to pass upwards.
-When the cuff end moves upward through the narrowed gap, the grip surface is separated from the immersion mold in order to sandwich the bead-finished cuff edge between the grip surfaces. Move relative to
-With the bead-finished cuff edge sandwiched between the narrowed gaps, the grip surface is relatively moved away from the dip mold in order to completely remove the glove from the dip mold. A production line that is configured to continue. A production line for producing multiple immersion molded elastomer gloves.
-Multiple immersion molds for immersion molding and
-A dip molding stage for coating and curing the gloves on the dip mold, and
-The hardened glove is configured to partially withdraw from the dip mold, and the cuff end of the glove is the dip mold for dip molding with the bead-finished cuff edge of the glove at the lowest position. A glove portion extraction device that is suspended from a glove portion, the cuff end having a first material thickness, and the bead-finished cuff edge having a second material thickness. It is provided with a glove partial extraction device in which the first thickness is thinner than the second thickness, and-a glove extraction device configured to completely remove the partially extracted glove from the immersion mold. ，
-The production line in which the glove removing device is described in any one of claims 1 to 18. Further provided with a transport surface for transporting the pulled out gloves so as to be separated from the glove pulling device, the glove pulling device repeatedly pulls out the gloves from the immersion mold and carries the pulled out gloves. The production line according to claim 19 or 20, which is configured to deposit on a surface. This is a method for completely removing the gloves from the dip-molded immersion mold using a glove extraction device when the gloves have already been partially removed. Each of the partially removed gloves has the above-mentioned It has a cuff end that is terminated by a bead-finished cuff edge that is suspended from the immersion mold, and the bead-finished cuff edge is a material that is thicker than the material of the cuff end, and the glove is removed. device includes a drive kinematic system for extracting from said submerged by gripping the partially withdrawn gloves, comprising a relatively movable gripping device with respect to the suspended cuff end that made, said gripping device comprises at least two gripping members comprises a first gripping member and the second gripping member, said first and second gripping members are movable relative to one another, and, bunch lifting you face Surfaces are provided on both sides of the gap in which the first and second gripping members are closest to each other, and the drive system moves the first and second gripping members with respect to each other in the gap. It is configured to vary in width
The method comprises the use of the drive system.
-The grip surface is moved so as to be relatively separated to increase the width of the gap, and the bead-finished cuff edge of the glove is suspended in an open space below the grip surface. In this state, position the gripping surfaces moved so as to be separated from each other on both sides of the suspended cuff end.
-The gripping surfaces are moved relative to each other to narrow the width of the gap, the cuff end is limited between the gripping surfaces, and the narrowed gap is narrowed by the bead-finished cuff edge. Narrow enough to prevent it from passing upwards through the gap, but wide enough to allow the cuff end to pass upwards.
-When the cuff end moves upward through the narrowed gap, the grip surfaces are relatively moved to sandwich the bead-finished cuff edge between the grip surfaces.
-While the bead-finished cuff edge is sandwiched between the narrowed gaps, the grip surface is relatively moved away from the dip mold in order to completely remove the glove from the dip mold. How to keep it going. 22. The gripping surface moves so as to move downward from the dipping mold when the bead-finished cuff edge is sandwiched between the gripping surfaces and the glove is completely removed from the dipping mold. the method of. 22 or 23. The method of claim 22 or 23, comprising moving one grip member towards the cuff end and the other grip member when the gap is narrowed. After the gloves are completely removed
-A step of orienting the removed glove in a substantially horizontal direction for subsequent deposition on a substantially horizontal surface.
-The method of any one of claims 22-24, comprising the step of moving the first grip member and the second grip member relative to each other to free the cuff end. After the gloves are completely removed
-Using the first and second gripping members, the glove is held only at the cuff end closest to the bead-finished cuff edge, while simultaneously holding the glove substantially downward, next. A claim that includes accelerating in a substantially horizontal direction and flattening the glove by its own inertia and / or by aerodynamic resistance before being released in a substantially horizontal direction of the deposit surface. Item 22 to 25 The method according to any one of items. One or both of the opposing gripping surfaces are raised protrusions towards the gap, and the gap is narrow enough to prevent the material of the bead-finished cuff edge from passing through. Also, when the material of the cuff end is moved downward together with the first grip member and the second grip member toward the bead-finished cuff edge, between the opposing grip surfaces. 22. 26. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 26, which comprises moving the opposing gripping surfaces relative to each other until they are sufficiently wide enough to slide freely. At least one of the opposing gripping surfaces is the rolling surface of the roller, according to the method.
-The gap is narrow enough to prevent the material from the beaded cuff edge from passing through, and sufficient to hold the material at the cuff end between the opposing gripping surfaces. relatively moving toward a gripping surface to the opposed to narrow each other, and - urging the lower side moving to the cuff edge and the bead finish first gripping member and the second gripping member The method according to any one of claims 22 to 26, comprising moving the rolling surface for the purpose. Each glove has a finger portion and the cuff end, the cuff end a production line process for manufacturing a plurality of dip-molded elastomeric gloves terminating in a production line at the cuff edge has a bead finish The production line includes a plurality of immersion molding immersion molds, immersion molding stages, glove partial extraction stages and glove complete extraction stages in the transfer device, and the transfer device is used.
-The immersion molding stage in which the resin is coated and cured on the immersion mold to form the gloves.
-The bead-finished cuff edge is formed at the end of the cuff end, after which the cuff end is withdrawn from the immersion mold and the bead-finished edge of the glove is at the lowest position. Suspended from the immersion mold in a state, the cuff end has a first material thickness, the bead-finished cuff edge has a second material thickness, and the first thickness. Partially said using the glove partial extraction stage, which is thinner than the second thickness, and the method for completely removing the glove from the immersion molding immersion mold according to any one of claims 22 to 28. A process in which the dip mold for dip molding is sequentially moved by the glove complete extraction stage in which the glove is completely removed from the dip mold.

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